No longer playing John Dutton on the small screen, Kevin Costner returns in a different role: as a storyteller of the lands that shaped the soul of America.
This week, Fox Nation officially announced that the two-time Oscar winner will step in as host and executive producer of “Yellowstone to Yosemite” – a three-part docuseries that promises to revive the legendary journey of former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt through some of America’s most untouched terrain. The first episode is set to premiere on February 8.
Although Costner is no longer part of Taylor Sheridan’s hit series Yellowstone, the name still lingers – a quiet nod to the image he etched into viewers’ minds: the spirit of the untamed West, the fight for land, and the enduring legacy of a man rooted in history and nature.
But this time, Costner isn’t playing a fictional rancher. He’s stepping in as himself – a filmmaker, a narrator, and a deeply invested American who wants to bring real stories back into the spotlight.
A True Story, Stranger Than Fiction
“Every once in a while, you come across a story that has that truly special mix of elements – it’s stranger than fiction, happens against all odds, and changes the world for the better,” Costner shared in an official statement. “The story of President Roosevelt and John Muir’s camping trip through Yosemite is one of those rare ones.”
This new docuseries is far from a casual stroll through scenic lands. It recreates Roosevelt’s 1903 expedition through Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove, where, for the first time, the president came face-to-face with nature in its rawest form. That experience would lead to the birth of the U.S. National Park System and the preservation of over 230 million acres of natural land — through the creation of 5 national parks and 150 national forests.
Exploring the Wounds Beneath the Beauty
“Yellowstone to Yosemite” doesn’t shy away from the difficult truths. The series dives deep into the Indigenous history of the region, exposing how Native American communities were impacted by westward expansion and settler invasions beginning in the 1850s. Through Costner’s narration — both thoughtful and compelling — viewers are invited on a journey that explores the tensions between preservation and erasure, between heritage and exploitation.
Lauren Petterson, President of Fox Nation, said, “Kevin has a unique ability to capture the American experience in a way that’s raw, poetic, and resonant. That’s exactly why he was chosen to lead this project.”
This isn’t Costner’s first foray into documentary storytelling. In 2022, he worked with Fox Nation on Yellowstone: One-Fifty, a visually stunning series that took him across the vast wilderness of Yellowstone National Park, where he blended personal insight with cinematic beauty.
Kevin Costner – A Pilgrim of the American Memory
Costner’s recent work proves he’s more than just an actor – he’s an artist committed to preserving memory through meaningful narratives. His latest film project, Horizon: The American Saga, is a sweeping six-hour epic that chronicles 15 years of American expansion and conflict before and after the Civil War.
In an increasingly noisy world, Costner’s return with a thoughtful, humanistic docuseries is a reminder that some voices are worth listening to — slowly, reflectively, and deeply.
